Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has criticized senior Pakistan cricketers after their loss to India in the T20 World Cup on Sunday. Pakistan have now two matches on the trot at the ongoing world championships and may not make it to the knockouts.
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Akram said players like Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam lack game awareness. He also mentioned that Rizwan, Babar, and Shaheen Afridi are not on talking terms, which affects the team's performance.
What did Wasim Akram say about issues between Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi?
Akram hinted that there is tension between Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi following a change in captaincy. Afridi was given the country's T20 captaincy after the 2023 ODI World Cup debacle. However, after just one series in charge, Afridi was replaced by Azam as the captain.
“There are players who don’t want to talk to each other. This is international cricket, and you play for your country. Make these players sit at home,” Akram said on the debacle.
Akram specifically pointed out Mohammad Rizwan's lack of game awareness during the match. He mentioned Rizwan’s poor decision-making against India’s Jasprit Bumrah, which led to his dismissal. Akram said Rizwan should have played more cautiously instead of going for a big shot.
The former Pakistan captain did not hold back on his criticism of Iftikhar Ahmed and Fakhar Zaman either.
“Iftikhar Ahmed knows one shot on the leg side. He has been a part of the team for years but doesn’t know how to bat,” said Akram.
“I can’t go and tell about the game awareness Fakhar Zaman. Pakistani players think that if they don’t perform well, the coaches will be sacked, and nothing will happen to them. It is time to keep the coaches and change the entire team.”
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In the match against India, Pakistan bowled out India for 119 runs but failed to chase the target, scoring only 113-7 in 20 overs.
“They have been playing cricket for 10 years, and I can’t teach them. Rizwan has no game awareness," he added.
This loss has put Pakistan on the brink of a group-stage exit. India’s victory marked the second-lowest total ever defended in a men’s T20 world cup and was India’s lowest defended total in a full T20 international. India have extended their lead to 7-1 in T20Is against Pakistan.
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